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Dive Review of Aggressor Fleet/Kona Aggressor II in
Hawaii/Kona

Aggressor Fleet/Kona Aggressor II: "Good value.", Aug, 2015,

by Elisabeth Sykes, NM, US (Reviewer Reviewer 5 reports with 5 Helpful votes). Report 8334.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 3 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments GOOD:
- Captain Chris made wise dive site selections, especially with Tropical Storm Hilda approaching. We always felt safe.

- The Chef Eric prepared tasty meals with locally grown produce and meats. He took care for a nice presentation of the food.

- The wine selection has been upgraded since our trips on this boat in 2005 and 2011. They now provide decent white and red table wines.

- There is a hot shower with shampoo, conditioner, and liquid body soap on each side of the dive platform.

- Crew members Cliff, Danny, Matt, and Phil were courteous and helpful.

BAD:
- the divers were not reminded to step to the middle of the dive platform to put on their fins. Often, they stopped at the bottom of the stairs to the dive platform and this caused brief "traffic jams."

- the camera table is oriented perpendicular to the long axis of the boat and dive suits are hung along the back side. The hanging wetsuits block the view of the white board and dive master during the dive briefings. Also, there is access to the camera table from only the bow side. On the Turks and Caicos Aggressor, the dive table is oriented parallel to the long axis of the ship, which permits greater access to the camera table and less obstructed views to the dive briefings.

- the dive area is too small. Divers have little room to put on their wet suits and dive gear. On previous trips, divers could stow their miscellaneous dive gear in the lockers below where there tanks are secured. Now, these are filled with fresh water bottles. However, ample "coat hangers" are provided so one can hang their gear from these above the dive lockers.

- after a dive, the dive masters would remove the first stage of the regulator and refill the tanks. However, the dusk cover for the first stage was only secured in the regulator approximately one-half of the time.

- the air conditioning was inadequate to properly cool the cabins during the day. However, at night time the room temperature did gradually decrease to approximately 72 - 73 degrees by the morning.

- there is no jug of drinking water on the dive deck, and water was neither offered or encouraged to be drunk before and after each dive. 'Be sure to stay hydrated and drink ample water. NOTE: there is a water jug in the salon.

This was our third time aboard the Kona Aggressor II. We feel that this boat is dated when compared to the Mike Ball Paradise Sport and Turks & Caicos Aggressor. However, the crew is courteous, friendly, and helpful and this boat offers good diving for the money.

Elisabeth Sykes and Vick Thomas

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, Maldives, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Sea of Cortez, Cayman Islands, Belize, Bonaire, California, Mexico, Florida Keys, etc.
Closest Airport Kona (KOA) Getting There There are direct flights from Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Jose.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, cloudy Seas calm
Water Temp 80-83°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 30-80 Ft/ 9-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions A 110 foot maximum depth limit was announced. However, there was no need to exceed this while diving at the various dive sites.

Diving was not permitted after drinking alcohol. If a diver consumed alcohol, they needed to wait until the next day to dive.
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins 1 or 2 Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 1 stars
Large Pelagics 4 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments The camera table has access from one side only. If there are a lot of photographers with large camera rigs, I believe there would be inadequate room. Compressed air is available.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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